The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has upheld the death sentences handed down to five men convicted for their roles in the deadly 2018 Offa bank robbery, bringing a major legal milestone in one of Nigeria’s most notorious criminal cases.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by the appellate court, the justices dismissed all the grounds of appeal filed by the convicts, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court consequently affirmed the earlier decision of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced the defendants to death for armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The five convicts are:-Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez (also known as Azeez Salahudeen), Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Abraham
They were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide, offences stemming from the coordinated attacks on several commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, in April 2018.
The Offa bank robbery of April 2018 shocked the nation due to its scale and brutality. Armed assailants simultaneously attacked multiple banks in Offa Local Government Area, leaving over 30 people dead, including nine police officers deployed to secure the area.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger security measures across Nigeria’s banking and commercial districts.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal held that the trial court properly evaluated the evidence, including eyewitness accounts, confessional statements, and forensic findings. The judges ruled that there was no miscarriage of justice in the original trial.
The appellate court also upheld additional prison terms imposed on the convicts for unlawful possession of firearms.
Although the Appeal Court’s decision is final at that level, the convicts retain the constitutional right to approach the Supreme Court for a final appeal.
Legal observers say the ruling reinforces judicial consistency in handling high-profile violent crime cases and sends a strong message about accountability for large-scale criminal attacks.
